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The Dangerous Guatemala Town Where Illegal Journey to U.S. Begins

The Guatemalan military stands by as coyotes negotiate deals to lead migrants to the U.S. border.

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

RESPONSIBILITY FOR SOMETHING?
>> HOUSE SPEAKER FIRING BACK AT THE PRESIDENT TODAY AND WHILE THAT VERY POLITICAL FIGHT PLAYS OUT IN D.C., OUR OWN TEAM CONTINUES ALONG THEIR JOURNEY TOWARD THE SOUTHERN U.S. BORDER. AND THROUGH SOME VERY DANGEROUS PLACES. TONIGHT THEY HAVE CAPTURED ON CAMERA A TRANSACTION WE HAVE RARELY GOTTEN TO SEE AND IT'S A BIG FACTOR IN THIS CRISIS. NBC'S STEPHANIE GOSK REPORTS TONIGHT FROM HER MOST RECENT STOP IN GUATEMALA.
>> Reporter: THE TRIP NORTH IN GUATEMALA LEADS TO A LAWLESS STRETCH OF BORDER AND A ONE ROAD TOWN. A REMOTE OUTPOST HOME TO DRUG RUNNERS AND HUMAN TRAFFICKERS KNOWN AS COYOTES. AN ECONOMY CATERING TO IMMIGRANTS THRIVES. DOZENS OF SMALL HOTELS LINE THE STREET CHARGING $5 A NIGHT. HUNDREDS MAKE THEIR WAY HERE ON BUSES DAILY.
>> EVEN WITH THE MILITARY HERE JUST STEPS AWAY, IMMIGRANTS FROM ALL OVER CENTRAL AMERICA COME HERE AND THIS IS WHERE IN THIS TOWN, THEY CUT THEIR DEALS WITH COYOTES. THEIR NEGOTIATIONS WITH IMMIGRANTS HAVE BEEN RIGHT OUT IN THE OPEN. RIGHT OUT IN THE STREET AND EVERYONE KNOWS IT'S GOING ON. WE VISITED FOR JUST A FEW HOURS. OUR CAMERA MAN SHOOTING MOSTLY FOR THE CAR. THIS IS NOT A PLACE WHERE OUTSIDERS LINGER. FROM HERE THE RIVER FLOWS TO MEXICO. EVERY DAY JUST BEFORE DAWN CENTRAL AMERICAN IMMIGRANTS PILE INTO WOODEN BOATS LIKE THIS ONE. THE OWNER DIDN'T WANT TO SHOW HIS FACE BUT HE DID SHOW TUS THE POINT WHERE IS THE BOATS LEAVE. COYOTES CHARGE $7,000 PER PERSON HE TELLS ME. THE ILLEGAL JOURNEY TO THE U.S. BEGINS HERE. ON THE STREET WE SEE A NEGOTIATION TAKING PLACE. FOUR, TWO OF THEM ONLY TEENAGERS STRIKE A DEAL WITH THE MAN IN THE WHITE HAT. OUR PRODUCER OVERHEARD THE CONVERSATION. THIS IS A TRIP FOR MEN HE TOLD THEM. WITH NO GUARANTEES. WE LEAVE ON SATURDAY. I SPOKE WITH THE SOLDIER ON DUTY STANDING FEET AWAY. HE TOLD ME THERE ARE FEW IMMIGRANTS AND DEFINITELY NO COYOTES. OUR STAY DIDN'T LAST LONG. WE FELT PRESSURED TO GET OUT. A PICK UP TRAILED OUR CAR AT TRYING TO STEM THE TIDE OF THIS MAYE